Ft. Wayne Businessman To Head Indiana's Economic Development Team

With a new year comes new faces, new ideas, and new ways to boost Indiana's economy.

Today, Governor-elect Mike Pence announced new additions to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Among them is Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, who will lead the way.

"It's going to be a really exciting time for Indiana and I think we're really poised as a state to really go to a whole new level" Doden tells WFFT.

Doden will be in charge of luring businesses to Indiana while helping current ones statewide in creating new jobs.

"I've been really listening to Governor-elect Pence's vision. I've been very attracted to what he's going to try and do" Doden says.

Doden will work with both business leaders and government leaders. Back in 2011, he ran for the Republican nomination for mayor of Fort Wayne. Despite losing, he says the experience will help him in his new role.

"When I ran for mayor, one of the real benefits of that was I developed great relationships with just some really unique people both inside and outside of government" he says.

He says campaigning also allowed him to get a better hold on what Hoosiers what.

"I think that knowing some of those ideas and what people are thinking is really going to be beneficial as it relates to what we're going to be going at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation" Doden says.

Indiana Secretary of Commerce Victor Smith is also among the new members of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

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